FR2777059A1 - DEVICE FOR COMMUNICATING TWO SPEAKERS, PRESERVING THEIR SEALING - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (10) for communicating, with connecting means, a first chamber (1) and a second chamber (2), said means comprising: on the first chamber (1) side a first sealing member (41); on the second chamber (2) side, a second sealing member (42) including a second flange (52) providing a seat for a second removable door element (72); means for sealed junction between the two flanges (51) and (52); one (2) of the chambers being defined by the inside of a flexible and sealed bag (15) whereof the mouth rim is sealingly connected to the corresponding flange (52). When the connecting means are uncoupled, the flexible bag (15) comprises, opposite its base (15c), a band (15d) extending it continuously beyond the corresponding flange (52), defining a closed (15f) and sealed envelope (15), but which can be opened, for protecting the corresponding sealing member (42) main part.

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device,

  with a coupling means, a first enclosure, and a second enclosure, each being sealed with respect to an external medium, for example atmospheric air, and having to remain sealed with respect to said medium, notwithstanding their placement communication. Consequently, the communication device, while operating in a reversible manner, is arranged to also preserve the seal, with respect to the same external environment, of the established passage

between the two speakers.

  For the purposes of this description, and

  the interpretation of the appended claims, by

  "tightness" or "tightness" means the characteristic that any wall separating two media prevents or limits any transfer through said wall, of one or more reference substances, by

example say contaminating.

  "Contaminant" or "contamination" means the characteristic that a substance must remain excluded, or in a limited quantity or concentration, in a given medium. These are, for example, pathogens, or pollutants, biological or other, but also simple solid, liquid, or gaseous particles, which can be suspended in any

fluid medium.

  More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention will be described below with reference to an application of medical or biological type, requiring avoiding or limiting any contamination, including by particles, coming from the external environment. For example, one of the enclosures being fixed, is constituted in particular by a clean or sterile room, and the other enclosure is removable, for example for single use, and contains one or more objects, or a charge to be transferred in the coupled position of the communication device, by the passage thus established between the two enclosures, namely from the removable enclosure to the fixed enclosure, for example to supply the latter with components or products required by manufacturing or production in progress in the clean room, or conversely to evacuate waste or

said room.

  Different devices for waterproof communication of two speakers have already been proposed and are

  available today on the market.

  Thus, in accordance with document FR-A-2 721 289, to which reference is made as necessary, such a device comprises: - on the side of a first enclosure, a first closure member comprising a first flange providing a seat for a first removable door element with a seal between the seat and the door; - on the side of a second enclosure, a second closure member comprising a second flange providing a seat for a second removable door element, with a seal between the seat and the door; - means of tight connection between the two flanges, determining an external critical line, peripheral and continuous, liable to be contaminated, and means of sealed joining of the two door elements, determining an internal critical line, peripheral and continuous, susceptible to be contaminated, contiguous to the external critical line; - one of the enclosures being defined by the inside of a flexible and waterproof bag, the edge of the mouth of which is tightly connected to the flange of the member

corresponding shutter.

  By "critical line", and as the person skilled in the art well knows, is meant a line with residual contamination by the environment external to the two enclosures

  put in communication. During or after coupling, this line is likely to come into contact with the atmosphere or fluid present in the passage established between the two enclosures, or in contact with the product or products crossing said passage, and to contaminate them.

  For a device as defined above, the present invention proposes to limit the possible contamination by the critical line (s), without resorting to decontamination of the latter before coupling, and without complicating the coupling means adopted, both in its structure than in its functioning. According to the present invention, in the uncoupled position of the coupling means, the flexible bag comprises, opposite its bottom, a strip extending it continuously beyond the flange of the corresponding closure member, determining a closed and sealed, but openable envelope for protecting the essentials of the corresponding closure member, and comprising an annular band linked to said corresponding flange, for sealingly separating the interior of the bag from the interior of the protective envelope. By "continuously" is meant the characteristic that the wall of the flexible bag is continuous with respect to the required seal with respect to the external environment, between the body of the bag on one side, forming its main part, and on the other side the strip forming the protective envelope. This continuity is obtained in different ways, namely either by a continuity of material, or by a weld or seal between the

bag body and headband.

  Thanks to the invention, the component of the critical line or lines located on the side of the closure member of the flexible bag, is completely protected by the protective envelope, before coupling with the other member d shutter. The solution according to the present invention also makes it possible to ensure better long-term tightness of the corresponding enclosure inside the flexible bag, since the tightness of said bag with respect to the flange of the corresponding closure member n 'is more involved in the sealing of said bag vis-à-vis the external environment; this of course considering that the interior of the protective envelope and the interior of the bag are under pressure, for example under vacuum. From this point of view, the flexible bag with its additional strip, as defined above is functionally only one and the same closed sheath, for example welded at its two ends, namely on either side of the corresponding obturation member. Thanks to the invention, it is the flexible bag, and it alone, having, as previously indicated, the shape of a closed sheath, which ensures the tightness, and of the corresponding closure member, and of the load, during the entire storage period of the set for use

unique defined above.

  The solution according to the invention also makes it possible to further limit the possible contamination resulting from the handling of the single-use assembly associating or bringing together the obturation member, adapted to be coupled to the other obturation member ( on the side of

  the fixed enclosure for example), and the flexible and waterproof bag.

  Indeed: - after opening, the removal of the protective envelope can be done with the hands, without the latter coming into contact with the front face of the door of the corresponding shutter member; - and the protective cover assures the user that the shutter member and in particular its door are

  remained uncontaminated before opening the envelope.

  The present invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: - Figure 1 shows, seen in section and schematically, a disposable assembly according to the invention, coming from be extracted from an initially vacuum-packed overpack; - Figure 2 shows, always seen in section and schematically, a communication device according to the invention, which includes the assembly shown in Figure 1; this device is shown in its coupled position, before the opening towards the inside of the door formed by the integral joining of the two door elements of the device according to

the present invention.

  In accordance with FIG. 2, a device 10 according to the invention makes it possible to put in communication: - a first enclosure 1, consisting for example of a clean room, inside which a manufacturing plant is located, which requires a supply of loose components, identified for example under the reference 14 in FIG. 1, in particular with regard to rubber stoppers; this first enclosure is materialized by a sealed partition 55 vis-à-vis an external environment 3, consisting of an atmosphere, for example normal and atmospheric, it being understood that the first enclosure is itself in a sterile or decontaminated atmosphere, in slight overpressure or depression compared to the external environment 3; - A second enclosure 2, defined by the interior of a flexible and waterproof bag 15, for example under vacuum; the bag 15 belongs to a removable, single-use assembly, operatively associating a closure member 42 with said bag; the bag 15 comprises at least one object 14, or a load to be transferred to the enclosure 1; this load is itself sterile or decontaminated.

  Functionally, and as the description

  below will demonstrate, a device 10 according to the invention makes it possible to put the enclosures 1 and 2 in communication, while preserving their tightness with respect to the external environment 3. This device comprises: - on the side of the first enclosure 1 fixed, a first shutter member 41, itself comprising a first flange 51, providing a seat 51a for a first removable door element 71, with a seal 81 seal between the seat 51a and the removable element 71; - on the side of the second enclosure 2, removable and for single use, a second closure member 42, comprising a second flange 52, providing a seat 52a for a second removable door element 72, with a seal 82 between seat 52a and the element

removable 72.

  The shutter members 41 and 42 are arranged to be coupled to one another in a leaktight but reversible manner, as follows: - the first shutter member 41 forms a female part, by a bore 51b formed in the flange 51, and the second closure member 42 forms a male part, by fitting the flange 52 into the bore 51b; locking means 57, represented by dotted lines, taking into account the diversity of their possible embodiments, make it possible to lock the second shutter member 42 on the first shutter member 41; - fastening means, not shown, of the electromagnet or suction cup type, make it possible to fasten, one against the other and with their two front faces 71a and 72a opposite, the two door elements 71 and 72; the first seal 81 also serves to ensure the continuous peripheral seal between the two door elements 71 and 72, by sealingly closing the contamination of their respective front faces; - The support between the flanges 51 and 52, as shown in Figure 2, is sealed by the second seal 82, and the two seals 81 and 82 are disposed adjacent to each other, in contact with the other by

  their lips, respectively inner and outer.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the coupled position, on the one hand the seats 51a and 52a form for example one and the same frustoconical seat, and on the other hand the door elements 71 and 72 form one and the same door with a frustoconical bearing, so that said door can be manipulated in one piece, by an operator located inside or outside of the fixed enclosure 1. However, locking means 58 being provided between the door element 72 and the flange 52 of the second closure member 42, the operator must have first made sure of the

unlocking of the means 58.

  If no particular precautions are taken, the coupling of the shutter members 41 and 42, then the opening of the door 71/72 determine the existence in the passage between the enclosures 1 and 2, of two critical lines, one outside on the side of the flanges 51/52, corresponding to the lip of the second seal 82, and the other inside, on the side of the door elements 71/72, corresponding to the lip of the first seal

  81. The solution according to the present invention makes it possible to minimize contamination by these critical lines.

  According to the invention and as shown in particular in FIG. 1, in the uncoupled position of the communication device 10, the flexible bag 15 comprises, opposite its bottom 15c, a strip 15d, in a flattened conformation and folded over10 itself. This strip 15d continuously extends the main part 15e of the bag 15, beyond the flange 52, and in doing so determines an envelope 12, closed in leaktight manner by a weld or a sealing means 15f, but openable by the operator. This envelope protects most, if not all, of the corresponding closure member 42, that is to say of the closure member of the flexible bag 15, described above. The strip 15d comprises a strip 15g linked to the flange 52, and more precisely to a collar 52b formed on the latter; for this purpose, the strip 15g is held tight against the flange 52b by an external clamping collar 90, heat-shrunk, or heat shrunk, or

elastic, etc ...

  As shown in FIG. 1, the strip 15g is itself shaped into a fold, determining an external flank 15gl and an internal flank 15g2, enclosing between them a flexible seal or elastic material 91. The connection of the strip 15g with the flange 52 allows to seal the interior of the bag 15 from the interior of

the protective casing 12.

  Before mating, on either side of the closure member 42, the interior of the protective casing 12 and the interior of the bag 15 are under a partial vacuum, for example having the same value. The protective envelope 12 can be opened before or at the time of the coupling of the two shutter members 41 and 42. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible bag 15 is external, and includes or encloses an internal flexible bag 16, possibly waterproof itself, the wall of which can be essentially common or distinct from the wall of the outer bag 15. It is in this inner bag 16 that the load or object 14 is placed arranged to be transferred to the fixed enclosure 1. The internal flexible bag 16 is linked or not, by its end 16b opposite the closure member 42, at the bottom 15c of the external flexible bag 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the internal flexible bag 16 comprises a sleeve 16a, folded back on itself, and thus forming means for closing the bag 16, it being understood that before coupling, and as shown in FIG. 1, the external flexible bag 15 and the flexible bag

  interior 16 are for example both vacuum.

  As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the strip 15d of the flexible bag 15, under partial vacuum, has a relatively flat shape connecting on one side the mouth 15a proper of the bag 15, and determining on the other side, a folded part 3 pm pressed against the rear face, opposite the shutter member 42. This arrangement brings two additional advantages: - after coupling, and before opening the door 71/72, the rear face (this is that is to say on the side of the enclosure 2) of said door is essentially exposed to the pressure of the external environment, through the folded-down area 3pm; this limits the effort to be exerted to open the door 71/72, taking into account the pressure difference between the enclosures 1 and 2; - This flattened shape constitutes a hinge or ball joint, which moreover makes it easier to orient the bulk of the bag 15, relative to the enclosure 1, once the door 71/72 is open, for example for transferring the load 14 by gravity.

Claims (12)

  1 / Device (10) for establishing communication with a coupling means between a first enclosure (1) and a second enclosure (2), each sealed relative to an external environment (3), preserving the seal vis-à-vis the external environment of the passage established between the two enclosures, said coupling means comprising: - on the side of the first enclosure (1) a first shutter member (41) comprising a first flange (51) providing a seat for a first removable door element (71), with a seal (81) between said seat and said door; - on the side of the second enclosure (2), a second closure member (42) comprising a second flange (52) providing a seat for a second removable door element (72), with a seal (82) between the seat and the door; - means of tight connection between the two flanges (51) and (52), determining an external critical line, liable to be contaminated, and means of tightly joining the two door elements (71) and (72), determining an interior critical line liable to be contaminated, contiguous to the exterior critical line; - One (2) of the enclosures being defined by the interior of a flexible and waterproof bag (15) whose edge of the mouth is tightly connected to the corresponding flange (52); characterized in that, in the uncoupled position of the coupling means, the flexible bag (15) comprises, opposite its bottom (15c), a strip (15d) extending it continuously beyond the flange ( 52) corresponding, determining a closed envelope (12) (15f) and sealed, but openable, for protecting the essentials of the corresponding shutter member (42), and comprising a strip (15g) linked to the flange ( 52) corresponding, for sealingly separating the interior of the bag (15) from the interior of the envelope (12) protection.   2 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (15g) of the flexible bag is held tight against the corresponding flange (52), by a collar (90).   3 / Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the strip (15g) is shaped into a fold, determining an outer flank (15gl) and an inner flank (15g2), enclosing between them a seal (91) or flexible material.   4 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, on either side of the corresponding closure member (42), the inside of the protective envelope (12) and the inside of the bag ( 15) are in a partial vacuum, for example having the same value. 5 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one (1) of the speakers is fixed, and the other enclosure (2), defined by the interior of the bag (15)   flexible, is removable, for example for single use.   6 / Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the flexible bag (15) comprises at least one object (14), or a load, to be transferred into the coupled position of the coupling means, by the communication passage, said removable enclosure (2) to the fixed enclosure (1).   7 / Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the flexible bag (15) is external, and comprises an internal waterproof flexible bag (16), distinct from the external bag (15), in which the load or the object is disposed . 8 / Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the flexible inner bag (16) is linked by its opposite end (16b) to the member   closure (42), to the outer flexible bag (15).   9 / Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner flexible bag (16) has a sleeve (16a) forming closure means by folding on itself, and the outer flexible bag (15) is under partial vacuum.   10 / Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the inner flexible bag (16) is also under partial vacuum.   11 / Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the strip (15d) of the flexible bag (15), under partial vacuum, has a relatively flat shape connecting on one side the mouth (15a) proper of the bag, and determining on the other side, a folded part 3 p.m. plated on the face opposite the organ corresponding shutter (42).   12 / Single-use assembly, associating, on the one hand a shutter member (42), adapted to be coupled to another shutter member (41), comprising a flange (52) providing a seat for an element of removable door (72), with a seal (82) between the seat and the door, and on the other hand a flexible and watertight bag (15), the edge of the mouth is tightly connected to said flange (52), characterized in that the flexible bag (15) comprises, opposite its bottom (15c), a strip (15d) extending it continuously beyond the corresponding flange (52), determining an envelope ( 12) closed (15f) and sealed, but openable, for protecting the essentials of the corresponding shutter member (42), and comprising a strip (15g) linked to the corresponding flange (52), so as to separate waterproof the inside of the bag (15) from the inside of the envelope (12) protection.